Motion producing mechanism for woodworking machines



May 13, 1952 o. 'r. HINTON, JR 2,596,402

MOTION PRODUCING MECHANISM FOR WOODWORKING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1949 FIG. I.

4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. QLAR T. HlNTONJr- ATTORNEY May 13, 1952 o. T. HINTON, JR 2,596,402.

MOTION PRODUCING MECHANISM FOR WOODWORKING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. OLAR T HINTONJr.

May 13, 1952 o. T. HINTON, JR ,596,4

MOTION PRODUCING MECHANISM FOR WOODWORKING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 JNVENTOR. OLAR T HmToNJr ATTORNEY May 13, 1952 o. "r. HINTON, JR 2,596,402

MOTION PRODUCING MECHANISM FOR WOODWORKING MACHINES Filed March 28, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 q Fl 6. I.

l 6 Q f as (I 75 72 7|" :III

FIQS. 75

o INVENTOR. 49 OLAR T Hm-rQNJn BY Q 5 ATTORNEY Patented May 13, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTION PRODUCING MECHANISM FOR WOODWORKING MACHINES 2 Claims. 1

My invention relates to motion producing mechanism for moving an object in a predetermined path in one plane.

A primary object of the invention is to provide mechanism of the above mentioned type, particularly adapted for use in the wood working industry upon a router or like machine, the mechanism serving to shift a wood panel or like work in a desired path beneath a rotary cutter or bit, which cuts a design or opening of the desired shape.

A further object of the invention is to provide motion producing mechanism which is simplified in construction, highly compact, strong and positive in its action.

A further object is to provide mechanism of the above mentioned type, including a novel arrangement of cams, and means to operate the cams simultaneously for shifting the Work beneath a router bit, or the like, at the most eflicient speed.

A still further object is to provide mechanism of thetype mentioned which is self contained and unitary, so that it readily may be applied to the work support tables of new and used routers, the mechanism being practical and economical to manufacture, and adaptable to a wide variety of uses.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of motion producing mechanism embodying the invention, and showing the mechanism applied to a conventional router,

Figure 2 is a perspective View of a wood panel, or like work,

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan View of the mechanism,

Figure 4 s a vertical section taken on line i-4 of Figure 3, parts broken away,

Figure 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 1, parts broken away, part omitted,

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the mechanism as shown in Figure 5,

Figure '7 is a plan View of a ball bearing table removed, with work mounted thereon, part broken away,

Figure 8 is an enlarged vertical section taken on line 8-4! of Figure 3, parts omitted,

Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line !.'9 of Figure 5, parts omitted,

Figure 10 is a similar view taken on line ifl--l 0 of Figure 5, and,

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line I l! I of Figure 5.

In the drawings, where for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 45 designates a conventional power operated router, of the type commonly employed in the wood working industry. This router l5 comprises a lower base portion [6 having an upright extension or standard IT at its rear side, the standard ll carrying a horizontal forwardly projecting arm l8, spaced upwardly from the base portion l6, as shown. A vertically disposed spindle housing [9 is formed integral with the arm 18, and mounted within the spindle housing is a rotary vertical spindle carrying a depending vertical bit or cutter 253. The router l5 further comprises a vertically adjustable fiat horizontal work support table 2i, mounted upon the forward side of the base portion It, as shown, and having its center disposed directly beneath the vertical axis of the bit 23. The table 21 is shiftable vertically toward and away from the bit 29, so that work mounted upon the table may be moved into and out of engagement with the bit.

As shown in Figure l, the numeral 22 designates generally motion producing mechanism embodying the invention, as applied to the router. The mechanism comprises a bottom flat generally rectangular horizontal plate 23, mounted directly upon the table 2|, and having suitable spaced apertures 24 for receiving bolts or the like for detachably securing the mechanism to the router. The plate 23 includes an integral horizontal extension 25 at the rear side thereof, adjacent to one corner of the plate 23, and the ex tension 25 projects rearwardly of the table 2! and terminates near and forwardly of the standard ll, Figure l. The purpose of the horizontal extension 25 is to support a suitable electric motor 26, operatively connected with a suitable speed reducer 21, both the motor and speed reducer being rigidly secured to the extension 25.

Rigidly mounted upon the plate 23 near the four marginal edges of the same are four pairs of axially aligned pillow blocks or bearings 28, the pairs adjacent to opposite side edges of the plate being oppositely disposed, Figure 5. The bores of the bearings 28 are spaced above the: plate 23 as shown. The pairs of bearings 28 at the left side and bottom of Figure 5 have journaled with in their bores horizontal shafts 29, provided at their opposite ends and outwardly of their bear ings 28 with bevel gears 30, rigidly secured thereto. The pairs of bearings 28 adjacent to the other side edges of the plate 23, Figure 5, have shafts 3i and 32 journaled within their bores. The shaft .32 is provided at its end adjacent to the left shaft 29, Figure 5, with a bevel gear 33 in permanent mesh with the adjacent gear 30. The opposite end of theshaft 32 terminates substantially adjacent to the outer face of the adjace'nt bearing 23. The shaft 3| is provided at one end, Figure 5, and outwardly of the adjacent bearing 28', with a bevel gear 34, in permanent mesh with the adjacent gear 35. The gears 35 at the lower left corner of Figure 5 are also in permanent mesh, and the three pairs of beveled gears have a 1-to-1 speed ratio.

wheel 35, disposed outwardly of the adjacent bearing 28, and operatively connected with a sprocket wheel 35 of the speed reducer 21 by a sprocket chain 3'1, Figure 1.

Rigidly mounted upon the shaft 3| and opposite shaft 29, and spaced equidistantly between the bearings 28 of such shafts, are oppositely disposed cylindrical cams 38, provided in their peripheries with identical continuous grooves 39 of a shape to impart a desired motion to cam followers. R- tation is imparted to the shafts 29, 3| and 32 through the sprocket wheel 35, and it is apparent that the shaft 3| and opposite shaft 29 rotatein opposite directions, as viewed in Figure 1. Likewise, rigidly mounted upon the shaft 32 and upon the shaft 29 opposite to it, are oppositely disposed cylindrical cams 49 similar to the cams 35, except that the shapes of identical continuous grooves 4| formed in their peripheries may be different, for imparting a different motion to cam followers.

Rigidly mounted upon the table 23 and disposed between the opposite ends of the cams 38 and 40 and the adjacent bearings 28, are pairs of vertical inverted U-shaped supports or brackets 42. Bigidly secured to the tops of each pair of brackets 42 and extending between such brackets and disposed directly above and parallel to the adjacent shafts in the bearings 28, are straight horizontal guide rods 43. These guide rods 43 are spaced a slight distance above the tops of cams 38 and 40, Figure 6. The guide rods 43 above the earns 38 are parallel and of the same length, and the guide rods 43 above the cams 49 are parallel and of the same length. All of the horizontal guide rods 43 are disposed at the same elevation. Longitudinally slidably mounted upon the pair of guide rods 43 above the cams 48 is a pair of blocks or heads 44, which may be rectangular, and provided with horizontal bores 45 in their lower portions, receiving bronze bushings 45, or the like, rigidlysecured therein and in turnslidably receiving the adjacent guide rods 43 therein Each block 44 carries a depending vertical screw shaft 41, carrying a needle bearing 48 at its bottom end,

the outer race of which engages within the adja- N cent cam groove 4| of the cam 40 beneath it. The blocks 44 above the cams 40 are rigidly secured to a lower transverse straight horizontal connecting rod 49, the opposite ends of which are screw threaded and engaged within screw threaded openings 58 formed in the opposed faces and lower portions of the blocks 44, adjacent to the bores 45 thereof and secured therein by lock nuts Figure 10. The connecting rod 49* is arranged at right angles to the guide rods 43 above the cams 40, and extend parallel to the guide rods 43 above the earns 38.

Longitudinally slidably mounted upon the pair of guide rods 43 above the cams 38 is a pair of blocks or heads 58', similar to the blocks 44, and provided with horizontal bores 5| in their lower portions, such bores receiving bronze bushings 52, rigidly secured therein, and in turn slidably receiving the adjacent guide rods 43. Each block 50' carries one of the depending vertical screw The other end of the. shaft 3| has rigidly mounted upon it a sprocket,

shafts 41, carrying the needle bearing 48, the outer race of which engages within the adjacent groove 39 of the cam 38 directly below the block 50'. The heads or blocks 55 above the cams 38 are rigidly secured to an upper straight transverse horizontal connecting rod 53, the opposite ends of which are screw threaded and engaged within screw threaded openings 54 in the opposed faces and upper portions of the blocks 50, and secured therein by lock nuts 55, Figure 9. The connecting rod 53 is disposed at right angles to the connecting rod 49 and is at an elevation above the connecting rod 49. The rods 43 are all disposed at the same elevation, as stated. The blocks 44 and 50 are substantially identical, except that the screw threaded openings 54 of the blocks 50' are higher than the screw threaded openings 50 of the blocks 44, so that the blocks 50' and 44 may be connected with the upper and lower connecting rods 53 and 49 respectively.

It is thus evident that when the sprocket wheel is driven by the chain 31, the oppositely arranged parallel shafts 29 and 3l will be driven simultaneously in opposite directions, and the upper connecting rod 53, together with the blocks 55, will be shifted longitudinally of the cams 38. Likewise, the oppositely arranged parallel shafts 29 and 32 are simultaneously driven in opposite directions, and the lower connecting rod 49 below the connecting rod 53 is shifted longitudinally of the cams and longitudinally of the connecting rod 53. A central master head or block 55 is arranged at the crossing point of the connecting rods 49 and 53, Figure 5. This central block 55 has upper and lower horizontal bores 51 and 58, arranged at right angles, and contains bronze bushings 59, rigidly secured therein. The'upper bronze bushing 59 slidably receives the upper connecting rod 53, while the lower bronze'bushing 59 slidably receives the lower connecting rod 49. It is obvious that when the connecting rods 49 and 53 are shifted simultaneously longitudinally of the opposed pairs of cams, compound motion in a horizontal plane is imparted to the central block 55, the path'of such motion depending upon the shapes of the grooves in the peripheries of the cams.

Rigidly secured to the plate 23, as by welding, and forming therewith a unitary integral structure is an elevated table or platform, including corner vertical posts 55 preferably in the form of angle bars, and a top horizontal plate 5 I, rigid'- 1y secured to the tops of the posts 50, as by welding, and having a large central rectangular opening 62. above the tops of the blocks 44 and Figure 8, so that the blocks may be shifted beneath the plate 6|.

Mounted upon the plate 5| is a conventional ball bearin table, designated generally by the numeral 53, and shiftable universally in the horizontal plane. This ball bearing table includes lower parallel horizontal straight tracks or ball races 54, rigidly secured to the plate 5| by any suitable means, and companion upper ball races 55, arranged above the races 64, ball bearings being disposed between the pairs of races 54 and '65. The races have rigidly mounted upon them a lower horizontal ball bearing table section 57, which is shiftable longitudinally of the pairs of races 54 and 55. Secured to the top of the ball bearing table section 51 and arranged at right angles to th pairs of races 54 and 55, are pairs of races 58 and 59, having ball bearings 10 arranged between them. The races 59 have rigidly The plate 5| is disposed slightly mounted upon them an upper horizontal ball bearing table section H, shiftable longitudinally of the races 6-8 and 69 and at right angles to the races 64 and '65. This construction is conventional, and of course, suitable means are provided to retain the ball bearings within th races and to keep the races from separating vertically, such means being omitted from the drawings. A horizontal bar or bracket 72 is rigidly secured to the bottom face of the upper ball bearing table section ll, Figure 8, and extends parallel to the races 63 and 69 and is disposed at the center of the ball bearing table, Figure 7. The ball bearing table sections H and 61 also have large central rectangular openings 1 l in registration with the opening 52. The bar 12 is disposed equidistantly between the shafts 29 and 32 and parallel thereto, Figure 1.

A short vertical tie rod 13 has its lower end screw threaded and secured within a screw threaded opening 74, formed centrally in the top of the central block 56, and the tie rod 13 extends vertically upwardly through the openings 62 and 'H, and is rigidly connected with the bar i2 at the longitudinal center thereof, Figure 8. Thus, when compoundmotion in the horizontal plane is imparted to the central block 56, such motion also is imparted through the tie rod 13 to the top ball bearing table section 1 I.

The top ball bearingtable section II is preferably provided with a plurality of adjustable clamps l5, rigidly secured thereto, and these clamps T5 are adapted to detachably secure a wood panel W, or like work, to the top of the ball bearing table, as shown.

The operation and use of the mechanism 22 in connection with the router I5 are briefly as follows:

The table 21 is adjusted to a convenient height, and the work W is clamped in place upon the ball bearing table. The router may now be started and the cutter or hit 20 revolves at high speed. The tabl 2! is adjusted upwardly until the bit 20 enters the panels to the desired depth. The motor 26 is now switched on, and the armature shaft of the motor drives the chain 31, through the speed reducer 27, thus driving the sprocket wheel 35. The pairs of cams 38 and 40 are simultaneously driven, as previously described, for imparting compound motion in a horizontal plane to the central block 56. This compound motion is imparted to the top ball bearing table section II carrying th work W through the tie rod 13 and bar 12. Thus the Work W is shifted horizontally with respect to the rotating bit 20, and a continuous groove G, Figure 2, will be cut in the work W. As long as the motor 26 operates, the horizontal movement imparted to the work by the mechanism is continuous and of course repetitive. It should be understood that any desired path of motion in the horizontal plane can be imparted to the work W by employing cams 38 and 40 having peripheral grooves of different shapes, and it is desired not to restrict the invention to the use of any particular grooves. It should be further noted that the mechanism may be used for cutting continuous slots in a plurality of panels like the panel W which may be clamped in a stack upon the ball bearing table.

For router spindle speeds of from 10,000 to 20,000 R. P. M., the rate of travel of the central block 5-6 should be from 4 to 5 feet per minute to produce th smoothest cut in the work and to reduce router bit breakage to a minimum, and the speed reducer 21 is designed to impart this rate of movement to the central block 56.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred embodiment of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. Motion producing mechanism, comprising a support, a rectangular group of shafts rotatably mounted upon the support in end to end relation, driving connecting means mounted upon adjacent ends of the shafts So that all of the shafts may rotate in unison, means for driving one shaft of the group, opposed pairs of cams secured to the shafts for rotation therewith, guide rods mounted upon the support and arranged near the cams and substantially parallel to the axes of the cams, members slidably mounted upon the guide rods and having parts which engage the cams, connecting rods secured to the members of each opposed pair of cams, the connecting rods crossing, and a central member having bores to slidably receive the connecting rods and shiftable universally in one plane upon rotation of the cams.

2. Motion producing mechanism, comprising a support, a rectangular group of shafts rotatably mounted upon the support in end to end relation, driving connecting means mounted upon adjacent ends of the shafts so that all of the shafts may rotate in unison, means for driving one shaft of the group, opposed pairs of cams secured to the shafts for rotation therewith, the cams of each opposed pair having substantially identical peripheral grooves formed therein, guide rods mounted upon the support and arranged above the cams and substantially parallel to the axes of rotation of the cams, blocks slidably mounted upon the guide rods and having elements to engage in the grooves of the cams, connecting rods secured to the blocks of each opposed pair of cams, the connecting rods crossing, and a central block having bores to slidably receive th connecting rods and shiftable by the connecting rods upon rotation of the cams.

OLAR T. HINTON, J R.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

